Individual differences in delay discounting: relation to intelligence, working memory, and anterior prefrontal cortex.
Lower delay discounting (better self-control) is linked to higher intelligence, but the basis of this relation is uncertain. To investigate the potential role of working memory (WM) processes, we assessed delay discounting, intelligence (g), WM (span tasks, 3-back task), and WM-related neural activity (using functional magnetic resonance imaging) in 103 healthy adults. Delay discounting was negatively correlated with g and WM. WM explained no variance in delay discounting beyond that explained by g, which suggests that processes through which WM relates to delay discounting are shared by g. WM-related neural activity in left anterior prefrontal cortex (Brodmann's area 10) covaried with g, r= .26, and delay discounting, r=-.40, and partially mediated the relation between g and delay discounting. Overall, the results suggest that delay discounting is associated with intelligence in part because of processes instantiated in anterior prefrontal cortex, a region known to support the integration of diverse information.
Shamosh
Noah A
NA
Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
Deyoung
Colin G
CG
Green
Adam E
AE
Reis
Deidre L
DL
Johnson
Matthew R
MR
Conway
Andrew R A
AR
Engle
Randall W
RW
Braver
Todd S
TS
Gray
Jeremy R
JR
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003469:Culture; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007206:Individuality; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009042:Motivation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult